Cork City 1-1 Wexford Youths (Youths win on penalties)

Wexford Youths made it through to the quarter final of the EA Sports Cup with a 5-4 win on penalties at Turner’s Cross this evening, after the game had finished 1-1 after normal time. It was an awful game to watch at times but an awful spot kick from Joe Gamble in sudden death – he hit the roof of the Curragh Road End – meant that Cork were to be knocked out by the same side in this competition for the second time in a row.

The home side made just two changes from the 1-0 win over Sligo Rovers on Friday night, with Guntars Silagailis replacing the injured Billy Dennehy and Mark McNulty coming in for Dan Connor between the posts. Mick Wallace, meanwhile, sent out a weakened Wexford side to the one that hammered Kildare County, with goalscorers Richie Fitzgerald and David Breen dropping to the bench.
Cork lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Denis Behan the target man. Wexford started in a flat 4-42 formation, although the numbers on the back of their shirts were more akin to American football rather than Association football - Youths outfielders lined up from 27 to 36.

Wexford had won five out of their last six coming into the game, and they started well. Keith Kearney forced Mark McNulty into making a save in the 10th minute, while Patsy Malone headed over the bar with 15 on the clock. They then continued their strong start to the game, when Conor Sinnott shot over the bar from 25 yards in the 18th minute.

Behan had Cork’s first attempt on target on 20, when he shot straight at Packie Holden, while the Abbeyfeale born striker headed over from a Faz Kuduzovic cross just two minutes later. Behan was involved again when Cork made a mess of a promising free kick on the half hour mark. Colin Healy rolled to Shane Duggan on the edge of the area and the midfielder then stopped the ball so Healy could play to Behan- the result was an easily blocked shot to the dismay of the small crowd gathered inside the Donie Forde Stand.
Cork were on top at this point and Behan shot wide again on 41, while both Healy and Duggan had long distance efforts before half-time, although it remained scoreless at the break.

The second half started poorly, with Colin Healy almost passing the ball into the hands of Packie Holden early on. However, Wexford took the lead with a freak goal in the 57th minute. Gavin Doyle hit a sweetly struck free kick off of the crossbar. The ball then fell to Keith Kearney who headed goalwards only for the ball to come off of Cork captain Dan Murray and into the net.

The football at times was awful and Denis Behan squandered a trio of decent opportunities for the Leesiders as they looked for an equaliser, while Dan Murray headed wide from a Danny Murphy corner with just four minutes to go.

The equaliser came in the final minute of normal time, although most of the spectator’s inside the ground would probably have wanted it to finish 1-0 rather than spend another half hour enduring this appalling tie. Tim Kiely done well on the right wing and Behan was left in loads of space inside the area where he volleyed past Packie Holden and into the net to bring the game into extra time.

There was nothing whatsoever worth talking about during the additional half hour and from the second it kicked off, the game looked destined to be decided by the lottery of a penalty shootout; the one exception was a downright woeful effort by Denis Behan.

Wexford’s Gavin Doyle was the first to step up to the spot and he duly made it 1-0 to Youths. Cork captain Dan Murray equalised, while Michael Mullen failed to score his penalty. Danny Murphy’s successful kick was followed up by an equaliser from Conor Sinnott. Timmy Kiely gave Cork a 3-2 lead, before Peter White brought the two sides level again. Pat Sullivan then missed for Cork, which gave David Breen a chance to make it 4-3 to the away team. Denis Behan converted for the home team to bring it into sudden death and then Johnny Flynn O’Connor made it 5-4 in favour of Wexford.

Joe Gamble then stepped up knowing that a miss will mean his team are out of the EA Sports cup for another year. He placed the ball before taking a few steps back but alas, it was not to be for Cork as the Irish midfielder fired the penalty high over the bar.

Photo Gallery for Cork City -v- Wexford

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